How do I learn?

Have you ever wondered why you learn some things easily while other things seem harder? And have you noticed that the things you find easy may be hard for other people, while they breeze through learning tasks that take you forever?

Learning is not just about intelligence—or about motivation. In fact, research in neuroscience, cognitive psychology, and related fields is shedding a great deal of light on how each of us learns, and on how we differ from one another in how we learn.

A variety of mental “ingredients” go into learning, from the ability to understand and use words to the ability to control various muscle movements. Many of these ingredients—like memory and attention—have different and distinct parts. (Curious? Read more about the mental processes that shape learning.)

Who are you as a learner? Take a snapshot of yourself as a learner with our interactive Learner Sketch Tool! Then download or email yourself a copy of your Learner Sketch report, which includes strategies for managing learning challenges.

What Else Can I Do?

Investigate Ways to Support Students Who Struggle in School Many students who struggle in school do so because their individual learning needs are not fully understood by the adults in their lives. The All Kinds of Minds Parent Toolkit provides information, case studies, and strategies around four key areas: attention, mathematics, reading, and writing. Embedded videos lend insight into how students with particular learning challenges—such as susceptibility to visual or audio distraction—may be experiencing the classroom.

Help Guide Research in Neuroscience
Educators are invited to participate in this short online survey intended to inform neuroscience researchers about what aspects of research on the brain and learning will be most useful to those who work with students in classrooms.

Embrace Your Affinities
We all have subjects or areas that we are drawn to, find inherently interesting, or feel passionately about. Leveraging such affinities can help motivate student success in school—as well as adult success in the “real world.” Click to see how one school community is celebrating student affinities.

Have additional suggestions of books, videos, strategies or ideas worth sharing with our community? Share them here and help us spread the word!

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Your Child’s Strengths (Viking 2010) Ever wonder how to nurture your child’s passions and strengths? Part of three of this book delivers a workbook for parents and children to complete together to discover the things children are naturally inclined toward and are passionate about. As children learn, they have the opportunity to develop greater talent in the areas where they have strengths.